Volkswagen Group joins Clean Shipping Network

German automaker Volkswagen Group has joined the association of cargo owners, Clean Shipping Network.

With this move, the company will use the Clean Shipping Index (CSI) assessment tool in the future to analyze and reduce the environmental impact of marine shipment.

The index includes carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions along with chemicals and waste disposal.

Members of the Clean Shipping Network will be able to determine the emissions of individual ships and individual routes using the index tool.

This will enable them to take valid environmental criteria into consideration in the selection of vessels.

Volkswagen Group logistics head Thomas Zernechel said that within the Clean Shipping Network, Volkswagen Group Logistics will intensify its efforts to ensure that ships cause lower emissions and that exhaust gases are treated.

"In addition, Volkswagen intends to promote the inclusion of other criteria such as the reduction of particulate emissions in the index," Zernechel added.